Crayons Relieve Women's Stress: Arts:HUB As a Third Space for Self-Care in an Urban Community

Background and Purpose: Amidst divestment in public school arts, communities turn to collaborative arts education for regeneration. Participatory art programs foster social change and community cohesion by creating spaces for interaction and meaning making. Art therapy emphasizes the "third space" concept, a place between work and home that can support health and well-being, especially among older adults. However, successful integration of art and community requires strong relationships and collaboration. ArtsHUB, a family wellness arts program hosted by a network of afterschool providers, addresses the pressing need for community-based interventions to enhance individual health and well-being in underserved urban neighborhoods. The study aims to explore how ArtsHUB contributes to enhancing family wellness and community cohesion by piloting art-based programming in five neighborhoods.

Methods: This process evaluation included a literature search focusing on community theory, health, and well-being to develop a logic model. Theoretical frameworks include community theory, social capital, and the concept of third spaces, guiding the evaluation of ArtsHUB's impact on individual and community-level outcomes. Program participants included students, faculty, and staff from the university, community partner staff, and individuals participating in ArtsHUB activities targeted at caregivers. Data collection involved various methods. The evaluators facilitated and took notes at two listening sessions one via Zoom and one in person. During ArtsHUB activities, observations and field notes were taken by students at five sites. Evaluators collected surveys from participants, staff, and university personnel (n=10) as well as follow-up interviews (n=7). Qualitative data analysis utilized an inductive approach, with topics and themes emerging from listening sessions, interviews, and field notes. Structured topic modeling in R was employed to identify key themes and patterns, with topics given meaningful names based on context.

Results: Descriptive statistics included basic demographics of ArtsHUB participants (n=32). While the average participant age was 41.9 years, a bimodal distribution revealed a mix of relatively young and older adults, with one child participating alongside a caregiver. Gender distribution showed one male, 13 females, and the remainder unspecified. Racial identity included two Hispanic/Latino and 12 Black/African American participants, with the remainder unknown. Structured topic modeling revealed seven emergent themes: 1) Homes are Engaging; 2) ArtsHUB Staff Engaged for Self-Care; 3) More Time for Pictures; 4) Continuity & After Care; 5) ArtsHUB as Third Space for Individual & Community Growth; 6) Uniqueness Through Learning Art; and 7) ArtsHUB can really make me think (about trauma). Participants emphasized the transformative power of art in addressing trauma and promoting healing, highlighting ArtsHUB's role in fostering a self-care community.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings of the study have important implications for practice, policy, and further research in community-based art interventions. ArtsHUB has proven to be an effective platform for enhancing family wellness and promoting community resilience. The program's success highlights the potential of participatory art programs in addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by underserved communities. The study underscores the importance of investing in arts-based initiatives to address social determinants of health and promote holistic well-being in urban neighborhoods.